Incumbent sheriffs outraise opponents

Thursday

Oct 28, 2010 at 11:54 AM

As incumbent sheriff candidates in Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender counties court voters to deliver them another term, new finance reports show they have surged ahead in campaign contributions, leaving them with enough cash to sharply outspend their opponents.

By Brian FreskosBrian.Freskos@StarNewsOnline.com

As incumbent sheriff candidates in Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender counties court voters to deliver them another term, new finance reports show they have surged ahead in campaign contributions, leaving them with enough cash to sharply outspend their opponents. By third quarter’s close on Oct. 16, Republican Sheriff John Ingram of Brunswick County had outraised his opponent with more than $92,400 in contributions. He spent nearly $78,700, leaving him more than $13,700 heading into the final stretch. Elizabeth “Rendy” Lewis, the Democratic opponent, raised more than $12,700 in the same period. New Hanover County Sheriff Ed McMahon, a Democrat, had raised more than $58,600 and surpassed $38,750 in expenditures. McMahon’s challenger, Republican Marc Benson, had raised $2,860 in the same period, finance reports show. In Pender County, Republican Sheriff Carson Smith had exceeded $10,700 in contributions by Oct. 16 and spent more than $9,296, according to third quarter financial disclosures. As of Sept. 30, the Democratic opponent, Doyle Christopher, had raised just $900. Recently filed campaign finance reports provide a new glimpse into how each candidate has sought to curry favor among voters, and has given incumbents bragging rights as races move into the final days before voters make their choice on Nov. 2. Finance reports show McMahon accepted a series of donations of a few hundred dollars each, including several from members of the New Hanover County sheriff’s office, and one $3,066 donation from Sid Causey, McMahon’s predecessor. “I take that as a compliment,” McMahon said about donors’ generosity, adding that he ran ads in newspapers and on television, as well as bought mailers and campaign signs. Downplaying the importance of campaign cash, Benson, said media reports about budgetary issues, crime, interdepartmental problems and other controversies within the sheriff’s office had embroiled the incumbent and given him more ammunition than money could buy. “That is the message and people are hearing it and I believe they are going to the polls and expressing concerns about it,” Benson said. Even though Smith in rural Pender County had eclipsed his opponent in terms of fundraising, he said financing had played a small role in this year’s race.“The incumbent sheriff, the biggest thing he’s got is what he’s done the past four years,” Smith said, noting that he spent most of his cash on signs and newspaper advertising to build name recognition. Christopher has mounted a challenge concentrated more on word-of-mouth campaigning as opposed to expensive politicking, said his treasurer, Ann Porter. “We’ve raised enough money to get the message out,” she said.